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Monday, April 19, 2010

What to Wear?

My DH hates it when I ask him what I should wear especially if I don't like what he suggests. I am sure I am not the only wife asking her husband this question. Here in Central Asia, I seem to have this question more often. I am still learning what is and what is not appropriate. In this culture, what I wear reflects what kind of woman I am. Am I modest or not? Modest means a headcovering and pretty much only my hands, face and maybe feet showing any skin. When it was cooler, I had less problem since layers work well. As it gets warmer, I am finding my wardrobe is limited. So currently I am in the process of figuring out how to add a few pieces to my wardrobe so I can be both cool and modest. When I say cool, I am meaning the opposite of warm.

As I stress or try not to stress over my wardrobe, I am reminded that just because the outside looks good or modest doesn't mean the inside of me is as it should be. One of Jesus's problems with the pharisees was that they looked good on the outside but not on the inside. According to Colossians 3, God wants me clothed with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. If that isn't hard enough, three verses later Paul tells us to also put on love. I need to be spending as much time thinking about these things and how they fit into who God is making me to be as I do about what I am going to wear today.

So yes, it is important what I wear and how I represent myself in this culture but I also know Jesus can only be seen in me when I am clothed with his righteousness. By God's grace, I will try to do both.

Dear God, May you help me as I navigate this new culture to focus on You and what You have for me not just all the externals. May I have compassion, humility, gentleness, patience and kindness but most of all let me love the people that I meet each day as you would love them. May You be glorified in all things. Amen

2 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Great reminders! I was thinking it would be great to have a mirror to show us how the inside looks. Then I realized, we do! "From the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks." Matt 12:34 I just need to examine what comes out of my mouth, especially to my family, to see how I'm clothed inside.Love you!JM

I like that analogy and it is so true. It is also not so much what I say but how it is said. I am really working on that last part in how I speak to my children and also in how they speak to each other.